Jewelry Store Owner Scares Off Men Trying To Rob Store

DULUTH, Ga. -- Gwinnett Police are searching for two men who tried to rob a Duluth jewelry store last Thursday.

Surveillance video shows the suspects entering Armen and Joseph Jewelers, smash the cases and try to steal the jewelry. The store's owner stopped the would-be thieves dead in their tracks.

Police say it takes a bold person to try to rob a jewelry store - that's because jewelry stores usually have security guards, surveillance cameras, and, as in this case, the staff is usually prepared.

Surveillance video shows the suspects trying to smash the jewelry display case with a hammer, but then the two drop the hammer and run - that's because the store's owner pulls out a gun. The two take-off running out the store, straight into the view of another surveillance camera, leaving clear images of their faces.

"I think they intended to be fast - in and out," said Gwinnett County Police Cpl. Jake Smith. "They probably didn't count on the strength of the display cases, or on the owner being armed. They didn't threaten him, however, so he didn't fire any shots at them. He just screamed at them to get out of the store, pointed the weapon at them, and they fled."

Police said they believe these two men got away in a black 4-door vehicle - likely a Toyota or a Nissan. Investigators emphasized that the suspects got away without a single piece of jewelry.